Page 22 of Emerald Vices

“I can leave Remi, you know?” I offer for the third time since I got here.

He shakes his head. “No. Remi’s yours. Not mine.”

“It’s not forever,” I tell him gently, patting his wrist. “I just need some space from this place. And from Andrey.”

“Or what? You’ll shoot him again?” I raise my eyebrows and he flushes with instant regret. “Sorry.”

“Low blow, but I deserve it.”

“No… no, you don’t. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” He picks at the orzo on his plate, pushing it around with his fork. “I just hate being cooped up here all the time.”

“It’s just until the concussion clears.”

He grimaces, his fork clattering against his plate. “I’m sick of being useless.”

“Misha! You’re not useless.”

He avoids my eyes and turns to Remi, who’s got his head resting on Misha’s thigh. “Don’t forget to take his bone toy. It’s his favorite.”

“Kat’s place is just so small. Otherwise, I could have arranged for you to?—”

He pushes up from the table, sending his chair skittering back with an angry screech. “I’m going to bed. I’m tired.”

I have no choice but to watch him shuffle from the dining room, his shoulders slumped.

Remi whines, but he doesn’t follow Misha. It’s like he understands that he’s coming home with me today.

“Okay, buddy,” I sigh, scratching Remi behind the ears. “Let’s get your stuff and go, huh?”

Except his stuff seems to have disappeared in the three days I’ve been away. There’s nothing in the pool house or in the garden shed.

Even more suspicious: neither Mila nor Leonty seem to be around.

In fact, no one is.

With no other recourse, I resignedly make the long trek into Andrey’s office. I don’t really expect him to be inside. I mean, if he was, why wouldn’t he join us for dinner? But when I open the door, Andrey is sprawled across the sofa, his long legs dangling over the side.

Some pitiful part of me jumps at the sight of him, desperate to get close.

There’s no surprise on his face when I walk in, so I do my best to hide mine.

“Where are Remi’s things?”

Remi sniffs at the coffee table between us, eyeing the whiskey glass sitting on a coaster as though he’d like to take a lick.

“Good evening, Natalia. Nice to see you as well.”

Scowling, I cross my arms over my chest. “You purposely hid his things so I’d have to come in here and speak to you.”

He doesn’t deny it as he pushes up and gestures to the chair behind me. “Why don’t you sit down?”

“I’d rather stand, thanks. Remi’s things?”

“Here. Which is where they’ll stay.”

My frown deepens just as my heartbeat picks up speed. “Listen, I’ll bring him back for his training regularly, but I do need his stuff.”

“You don’t need anything,” he says, rising to his feet. “Because Remi’s staying right here. As are you.”

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